Newbury and Warwick called off

Punters faced another disappointing Saturday as the high-profile meetings at Newbury and Warwick fell victim to the weather.

Just weeks after the abandonment of the Festival trials and Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham, two more valuable meetings were lost to frost.

Newbury, which was due to stage both the Aon Chase and totepool Game Spirit Chase, was called off shortly before 1pm after a fourth inspection while Warwick abandoned after a second check at 9am.

Officials at Newbury had a first look at 7.30am, followed by inspections at 11am and noon and although conditions had improved, the track was still not raceable just over half an hour before the first scheduled event at 1.35pm.

“We have had to abandon as the frost hasn’t come out of the ground enough,” said clerk of the course Richard Osgood.

“The sun has come out but it has taken its time. We gave it our best shot and did everything we could.”

It was a similar story at Warwick where clerk of the course Fiona Needham gave up on their fixture, which was to include the Blue Square Kingmaker Novices’ Chase, at 9am.

She said: “We have had to abandon as the cloud has come in and temperatures are still minus two.

“We did need everything to go our way, but unfortunately it hasn’t.”

Ayr’s meeting did get the go ahead after the track passed 6.45am inspection but Sunday’s action at Hereford also hinges on 7.30am inspection.

However, no problems are reported at Exeter and conditions at Leopardstown are set fair for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup meeting with the ground currently described as yielding, yielding to soft in places.